Scenes of jubilation in court this morning after the decision Photo by Rakyat@Work
In a stunning development, Raja Petra is to be freed from ISA detention after a successful habeas corpus application.
Shah Alam High Court Judge Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad ruled that Raja Petra’s detention was illegal and that the Home Minister had acted outside his jurisdiction when he issued a two-year detention order under Section 8(1) of the ISA.
“The atmosphere here is fantastic,” says Rakyat@Work, my contact at the scene. “When the verdict was read out, everyone erupted in jubilation so much so the judge had to admonish the crowd and remind them it was a court of law. We couldn’t help it though! A lot of people were crying openly.”
Marina rejoices after weeks of uncertainty and anguish
“RPK is still in Kamunting. They will have to send him here for the official release at 3.00pm.”
Some 80 to 100 people are now at the court premises. A group has gone to Kamunting to meet up with Raja Petra. Others have gone to celebrate and will be back at 3.00pm.
Says blog reader aaa:
Sunday vigil (in PJ) will go on. Don’t forget the rest of the ISA victims still languishing in Kamunting.
The vigil must continue till the last ISA victim is out. That will be the deserved slap to Mahathirism.
Blog reader Vijay Kumar Murugavell says the Home Minister must take responsibility:
It was mala-fide with a capital ‘M’.
This has also cast aspersions on Syed Hamid Albar’s credibility as Home Minister; he should just resign in disgrace.
Congrats to the defence team. Raja petra has been SET UP by the botak ,
Lets start a FUND to SUE Botak for MISUSE OF POWER.
RAJA PETRA MUST TEACH THAT ******* A LESSON .
MAKKAL SAKTI ! ! !
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yesterday
ISA
And today lighting candles
The solidarity of common pursuits
Let freedom for mankind to speak
Laws should be fair
Humans never practice
What religions tell
They do the opposite
Playing god I can say
Yesterday
ISA
And today people are angry
When leaders we elected
They don’t walk our talk
Sweet words of honey
When they get the pot
Up so high they forget
We are fooled thinking they remembered
So yesterday
ISA
And today we want change
Lighting candles saying our prayers
Let fairness be for all of us
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Opps i forgot.
DSAI was jailed for misuse of power.
It was a precedent .Now WILL THE POO LICE investigate the (the Minister) for misuse of his ministerial POWER.
LET THERE BE FAIR PLAY AND JUSTICE.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
While celebrating, let’s not forgot WHO put him under ISA without any valid reason.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Good Lord, has answered our prayers!
Thank you, Jesus.
We must get the rest out as well.
We must continue our struggle till all are out!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
A vivtory to RPK! A victory to the Rakyat!
WELCOME HOME RPK!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hurrah!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
sunday vigil will go on. dont forget the rest of the ISA victims still languishing in Kamunting.
vigil must continue the last ISA victim is out. That will be the deserved slap to Mahatirisim.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Woohoooo!!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
RPK for PM of MALAYSIA.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Its about time 55 days have elapsed exceeding the last time RPK was detained for 52 days.
Thank you to the judge in making a fair and just decision.
kudos to Pete’s counsel and all who made this possible.
Also thanks to Reporter Helen Vatsikopoulos of ABC news who spoke to Anwar Ibrahim, Najib Razak
and the former Law minister Zaid Ibrahim who resigned from the
government over the use of the ISA which was recently broadcast over astro
Marina & her family were extensively interviewed in
Kamunting for the broadcast.
Thanks for bringing this travesty of justice to the attention of the International community.
Alhamdulillah.
Now its kick butt time.
Also no need to worry him being re-arrested.
Its different this time RPKs counsel malik imtiaz hilited that they changed the goalpsot of 60 day detention when the 1st harbeas corpus application was made, home minister sneakily issued the 2 year detention order on the very day the same was made.
In the 2nd habeas corpus application, RPKs counsel hilited that the home minister has no locus standi to detain RPK on grounds of insulting Islam as no fatwa has been issued against him by any religious bodies.
His counsel also pressed that the 1st habeas corpus application is still valid and not merely academic as the police had acted in mala fides…many saw this as academic and a waste of time, but I feel it is valid…as only 55 days has elapsed , thus they will be able to arrest him under the police jurisdiction of 60 days—I feel his counsel has already pre empted this.
It was mala-fide with a capital ‘M’.
This has also cast aspersions on Syed Hamis Albar’s credibility as Home Minister,he should just resign in disgrace.
Vijay Kumar Murugavell
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Million-dollar question: will he be re-arrested once he is officially released and step out of the Shah Alam court?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When we are in power, we must dump the entire BN-UMNO s…. in Kemunting forever.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Sorry to spoil the mood, but I remember Karpal being successful in obtaining a writ of habeas corpus and only got as far as the Ipoh toll booth.
Keep your fingers crossed, though.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Pak Lah your 4 more months will be remembered if you Abolish ISA today.
If Pak Lah doesn’t do it, he will answer in front of God when he kicks the bucket.
So Pak Lah you still have time.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
yaiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Hallelujah!
Righteousness and Justice are HIS throne!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Welcome home RPK and curse those who put you inside.just be careful of the man who think upside down,for he could be thinking of a reason to rearrest you,like outside is not safe and he has to put you again to ensure your safety.or rather their own safety.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yahoo!!!! Can self declare holiday or not? Want to go to SA court and welcome Pete back.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Wait and see first if they will actually release him. Also, based on our Govt fine records, something else might happen. I hope i am wrong.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
RPK should NEVER have been sent to Kamunting in the first place. It was a despicable act on the part of the Home Minister.
I am so relieved and speechless with happiness. May the rest of the detainees be released soon. The candlelight vigils MUST go on, and with a sense of renewed purpose. People power works!!!
Cheers to RPK and his family…happy homecoming!!
MAKKAL SAKTHI!!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
RPK has done nothing wrong. It is justified that he is released. We wish RPK the best of health.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I am in my work place now and I feel like screaming out loud over this wonderful news. However,I am holding back my sense of joy until I have official news that our beloved RPK has indeed walked out of Kamunting Hilton.
Now can those lawyers out there think of how we can file a suit against that … who locked RPK when it is out of his jurisdiction.
Welcome back to civilization after the long stay as a guest of that most uncivilized Mnister.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Home Minister Syed Hamid SHOULD and MUST Resign NOW !! He is not fit to hold that Post. He should also be charged in the Court of Law for Abuse of Power, if he is in New Zealand, he is History,
the Public will demand for him to be SACKED and charges filed
against him. In New Zealand we would have pelted him with rotten Eggs!
NZ
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Now that RPK is out I think all bloggers should concentrate on educating the public that all the taxes paid by the rakyat belongs to the government and not to Barisan National,.Therefore whoever form the government has the right to make allocations for development etc etc.
There is a subtle message from BN MP (whenever a project is completed and declared opened) that only BN can bring developments which is not true
Also make abolition of ISA an election issue to increase the pressure on BN MP to support its abolition or be abolished fro Parliament. The abuse by those in power is so obvious as they use it whenever their action have no legal basis, irrational and unjustifiable.
The speech by Zaid Ibrahim is refreshing and we hope to see more such enlightened malays coming out to be counted.
No body take badawi seriously anymore not only he will be out soon….His track record destroy his credibility and what a joke of a prime minister
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yahoo!!! YES YES YES.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0